Paid
Thonon Sailing Club
Thonon-les-Bains
Cercle de la Voile de Thonon (CVT) at the Port de Rives: historic French Lake Geneva sailing club, school for Optimist, dinghy and catamaran, regattas and courses.
Paid · Book online
Fishing and Lake Ecomuseum
The only museum with aquariums in Haute-Savoie: 3 traditional fishermen's huts at Port de Rives, 2 aquariums of Léman species, a taxidermied bird collection.
Nanoxyde · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
Municipal open-air museum, 3 traditional 12th-c. huts
Access
Paid (free under 18 and every Sunday)
Price
Adult €3.50 · Reduced €2.60 · under 18 free · Sunday free for all
Duration
45 min to 1 h 30
Best season
30 May — 30 September · daily in July-August
Parking
Aristide Briand car park, 620 m away
Animals
Policy not documented
Stroller / Reduced mobility
Main hut accessible with assistance (one step)
Town
Thonon-les-Bains
Wheelchair access
Not accessible Source: Acceslibre
💶
Price
Plein tarif adulte
3,50 €Visite des expositions et aquariums
Tarif réduit
2,60 €+70 ans, 18-25 ans, étudiants, enseignants, chômeurs, handicapés, COS, carte Loisirs, carte GIA
Groupe (10+) sur réservation
2,60 €Accompagnateurs gratuits
Dimanche tous publics
0,00 €GRATUIT tous les dimanches
Moins de 18 ans
0,00 €Gratuit toute l'année, ICOM, presse, amis musées
Billet jumelé Musée du Chablais + Écomusée plein
6,00 €Économie sur les deux entrées séparées
Billet jumelé Musée du Chablais + Écomusée réduit
4,00 €Sur justificatif
What is Fishing and Lake Ecomuseum
The Écomusée de la pêche et du lac is the only museum with public aquariums in Haute-Savoie. Run by the town of Thonon-les-Bains since 1987, it occupies three traditional fishermen's huts at the historic Port de Rives, a fishing district dating back to the 12th century.
Inside, two Lake Geneva aquariums show local species (perch, féra, Arctic char, burbot, trout, carp, roach, signal crayfish), alongside a naturalised ornithology collection, traditional fishing gear (boats, traps, nets, period and modern engines), the preserved Paul Perroud hut kept as a mid-20th-century fisherman's workshop, and a documentary on today's professional fishing on Lake Geneva.
2026 season: open from 30 May to 30 September. Very affordable fares: adult €3.50, reduced €2.60, free under 18, free for everyone every Sunday. A combined ticket with the Musée du Chablais costs €6/€4 for both municipal museums.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Port des Pêcheurs de Rives, 74200 Thonon-les-Bains (at the foot of the Château de Rives) View on map
Coordinates
≈ 46.3787° N · 6.4793° E (to be confirmed on Géoportail)
Altitude
≈ 372 m (Port de Rives, on the shore of Léman)
Opening times
SEASON REOPENS 30 MAY 2026 (Fête du Nautisme weekend). May/June/Sept: Wednesday-Sunday 2:30pm-6pm. July-August: every day 10am-12:30pm and 2:30pm-6pm, open on 14 July and 15 August. Annual closure 30 Sept - end of May. Verified on the official site on 23 May 2026 — subject to seasonal change.
Booking
No online booking. Tickets sold on site at the huts' entrance. Guided tours June/Sept at 3pm and 4:30pm. July-August at 11am, 3pm, 4:30pm. Group bookings by phone +33 (0)4 50 70 26 96 or email musees@ville-thonon.fr. Verified 23 May 2026.
Parking
Aristide Briand car park (Square Aristide Briand) ≈620 m away. Thonon funicular between the upper town and Port de Rives nearby. Paid and free parking around the harbour.
Dogs
Policy not documented on ville-thonon.fr. Aquariums and sensitive items on site — take care or contact the museum.
Accessibility
Main hut (with aquariums) accessible on the ground floor with assistance (one entrance step). Upper floor is stairs only. Perroud hut has a wide enough doorway. Audiovisual hut is difficult to reach (gravel approach). Reduced rate €2.60 for accessibility visitors. Verified 23 May 2026.
Visit duration
45 min to 1 h 30 depending on depth of visit and use of the PegaseLAB app
Contact
+33 (0)4 50 70 26 96 (museum, in season) · +33 (0)4 50 70 69 49 (Culture Department, year-round) · musees@ville-thonon.fr. Verified 23 May 2026.
Access
How to get there
By car
From Évian (≈15 min) via N5 then Thonon town centre, follow signs for 'Port de Rives'. From Geneva (≈45 min) via A40 then D903. Aristide Briand car park ≈620 m from the écomusée.
Open in MapsPublic transport
Star't / Thonon Agglo network bus lines 143/151/152 on the Geneva-Douvaine-Thonon-Évian corridor. Train: Thonon-les-Bains SNCF station on Léman Express L1 (Évian-Coppet via Geneva) and TER L3 (Lyon-Évian). Thonon funicular between the upper town and Port de Rives. Seasonal CGN boats Thonon-Évian, Thonon-Lausanne, Thonon-Yvoire.
Open in MapsBy bike
Cycle paths around Léman and the greenway through the Thonon urban area. Bike parking at Port de Rives.
Open in MapsNearest stops
- Thonon-les-Bains · SNCF (TER) · 1095 m
- Les Arts · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y03, Y91 · 1128 m
- SNCF (TER) · Official fares & timetables →
- Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Official fares & timetables →
Transport data verified on 2026-06-15 · source transport.data.gouv.fr (Licence Etalab 2.0)
When to visit
When to visit
Écomusée de la pêche et du lac is open ONLY from 30 May to 30 September 2026 (the lakeside summer season). The July-August high season offers daily opening (10am-12:30pm and 2:30pm-6pm), ideal combined with a day in Thonon or a stay around Léman. In May-June and September, it is open Wednesday-Sunday 2:30pm-6pm only. KEY HIGHLIGHTS: (1) the ONLY public-access aquarium venue in Haute-Savoie — guided tours in June/Sept at 3pm and 4:30pm; in July-August at 11am, 3pm, 4:30pm. The PegaseLAB app turns the visit into an immersive investigation for teenagers and adults.
Events : Season reopens 30 May 2026 (Fête du Nautisme weekend). Guided tours June/Sept at 3pm and 4:30pm; July-August at 11am, 3pm, 4:30pm. Nuit des Musées in May (2026 edition held on 17 May). Journées Européennes du Patrimoine in mid-September (free entry).
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
Photos
Gallery
Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs74 or email photos@loisirs74.fr
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I book at Écomusée de la pêche et du lac?
Écomusée de la pêche et du lac operates on a walk-in basis during the summer season. Tickets are sold on site at the huts' entrance. Group bookings by phone +33 (0)4 50 70 26 96 or email musees@ville-thonon.fr.
What is the price at Écomusée de la pêche et du lac?
Écomusée de la pêche et du lac: full adult rate €3.50, reduced rate €2.60. FREE under 18 and EVERY Sunday. Combined ticket Musée du Chablais + Écomusée full €6/reduced €4. Group rate €2.60. Verified 23 May 2026.
What are the opening hours at Écomusée de la pêche et du lac?
Écomusée de la pêche et du lac: season runs 30 May - 30 Sept 2026. May/June/Sept Wed-Sun 2:30pm-6pm. July-August every day 10am-12:30pm and 2:30pm-6pm. Closed in winter. Verified on the official site on 23 May 2026 — subject to seasonal change.
Is there an aquarium at Écomusée de la pêche et du lac?
Yes. Écomusée de la pêche et du lac features 2 aquariums of Léman species (perch, whitefish, arctic char, burbot, trout, carp, roach, Californian crayfish). It is the ONLY public-access aquarium venue in Haute-Savoie.
Is Écomusée de la pêche et du lac free on Sundays?
Yes. Écomusée de la pêche et du lac is FREE for ALL visitors every Sunday of the season (30 May - 30 Sept 2026). An exceptional policy from the town of Thonon (the same as Musée du Chablais at Château de Sonnaz).
Is there a combined ticket for Écomusée de la pêche et du lac and Musée du Chablais?
Yes. A combined ticket covers both Écomusée de la pêche et du lac and Musée du Chablais (Château de Sonnaz): full €6/reduced €4 for both municipal museums of the town of Thonon-les-Bains. Savings versus separate entry.
Is Écomusée de la pêche et du lac accessible to visitors with reduced mobility?
Partly. At Écomusée de la pêche et du lac, the main ground-floor hut (aquariums) is accessible with assistance (one entrance step). The upper floor is stairs only. The audiovisual hut is difficult to reach (gravel approach). Reduced rate €2.60 for accessibility visitors.
How do I get to Écomusée de la pêche et du lac from Évian?
Écomusée de la pêche et du lac is 15 minutes from Évian via N5 and Thonon town centre. By transport: Léman Express L1 or TER L3 to Thonon SNCF station. Funicular between the upper town and Port de Rives. Seasonal CGN boats Évian-Thonon. Aristide Briand car park, 620 m away.
Sources
Sources & verification
- ville-thonon.fr
- ville-thonon.fr
- ville-thonon.fr
- thononlesbains.com
- haute-savoie-tourisme.org
- destination-leman.com
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
Nearby
Other places to explore in the area and in the same category
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CGN Thonon Stop
Thonon-les-Bains
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Château de Sonnaz
Thonon-les-Bains
Castle built in 1666 by the Gerbaix de Sonnaz in the heart of Thonon-les-Bains, today home to the Chablais Museum and Tourist Office, facing Lake Geneva.
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Musée du Chablais
Thonon-les-Bains
Chablais history museum in the 1666 Château de Sonnaz in Thonon. Adult 3.50 EUR, free under 18 and every Sunday. Open mid-May to mid-November.
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Palais Lumière
Évian-les-Bains
Former thermal establishment (1902) converted into an exhibition space. Full price €9, reduced €7, free under 16. Painting, sculpture, photography exhibitions.
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Château de Fonbonne and its Herbularius
Évian-les-Bains
14th-century fortified manor in the heart of Évian-les-Bains with its Herbularius medieval-inspired garden (sage, rosemary, fennel, horseradish), laid out in 2011.